Let me suggest that no one commenting on this blog knows *anything* about what it takes to cope psychologically with pitching in the major leagues

Agree with everything you wrote, except this. There actually is a former major league pitcher who occasionally comments on here. A few of us long time commentors know who he is, and Craig can confirm it as it’s not my place to out him (although his user name is first initial/last name).

]]>By: rangermaniahttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408468
Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:42:34 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408468There are a growing number of dumb teams led by the Giants who paid Zito as much as 6 million per win, The Yankees who paid CC at a rate of 1.5 million per win, and the Mets paying Santana as much as 4 million per win and the P hillies who will be paying Hamels approximately 1 mill per win unless he wins 20 or better. The Red Sox and Dodgers will be joining that list shortly as the top prospects are only average at best. That’s a product of our times – teams with more money than brains.
]]>By: gosuhgohttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408450
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:59:59 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408450I shudder as a Tigers fan to think of what the Verlander contract will look like.
]]>By: vallewhohttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408438
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:35:05 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408438I don’t think he’s even worth a 125 mil contract.
]]>By: djpostlhttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408433
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:25:43 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408433Yeah. Market dynamics come into play but I’d still take that cash and sign both Sanchez & Jackson before I’d spend it on Greinke.

An astronomical overpay is an astronomical overpay any way you slice it.

First of all, MLB contracts are mostly *guaranteed*. If your boss decides you aren’t doing your job well and fires you, you lose your salary. If Greinke’s boss decides he’s not doing his job well and releases him, *he still gets paid*.

Second of all, *Greinke already has a huge salary by any ordinary standard*. He already gets paid more money per year than most people will ever make in a lifetime. Indeed, unless he lives a really spendthrift lifestyle and has invested very badly, he’s already set for life. But you think that if his salary goes up *even higher* that he’s suddenly going to feel pressure *that he has no reason to feel* (remember, his contract is guaranteed and he’s already set for life!) and forget how to pitch? Why not argue the opposite–that he’ll fail to earn his money because he’ll feel no pressure at all, and so get lazy?

]]>By: pauleeehttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408411
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:50:52 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408411An increase in salary brings extra pressure to people of all walks of life. You just got a raise, your boss expects you to live up to that raise (that bastard) and you’d better shine or the next time things get tight, your ass is in the chute. Now imagine you’re under the microscope as a pitcher in the MLB.

Oh wait, that’s right. These guys just stop caring when they get that huge contract.

]]>By: Jeremy Foxhttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408403
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:37:11 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408403The market is changing fast. In the recent past, he would indeed have had to pitch like a HoF caliber pitcher to justify that kind of deal. In the current or future market, $160 million might turn out to be a fair price. I don’t know, but it’s possible. The going rate changes over time, and right now the going rate for even good-but-not-great free agent pitchers like Greinke is going up fast. They’re a scarce commodity in a market with a lot of demand for them and a lot of ability (thanks to new or expected TV money) to pay for them.
]]>By: davidpom50http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408397
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:31:59 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408397uyf, I’m betting the policyholders don’t give a damn, as long as their insurance is paid out when it’s due. The shareholders who want to see profits are probably ecstatic, since a baseball team in a large media market with a national fan base can rake in tons of money.
]]>By: paperlionshttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408396
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:30:09 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408396People have been talking about contract inflation since ARod signed his deal 12 years ago….it still hasn’t happened. In general, there is too much risk associated with tying up so much money in one player for so long.
]]>By: paperlionshttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408394
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:28:16 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408394True.
]]>By: Jeremy Foxhttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408393
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:28:08 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408393Glad someone on this thread finally pointed this out. Inflation is key here. I mean, back in the early 1980s Mike Schmidt was the highest paid player in baseball at about $2 million/year. Is pretty much every player in baseball today except maybe Mike Trout overpaid because his annual salary is more than Schmidt’s? Or go back even further–was even Schmidt overpaid because he made way more than Babe Ruth?

I don’t really know how much any given team ought to pay for Greinke (he’s worth more to some teams than others, depending on those teams’ other needs, how close they are to contending, etc.). But $160 million or whatever in today’s market isn’t necessarily an “overpay” just because it’s more than other pitchers got previously.

]]>By: koufaxmitzvahhttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408388
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:25:29 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408388Dodgers also make heavy income by entering foreign markets like Mexico (w/ Gonzalez) and potentially Korea (with Ryu). I imagine there are quite a few Gonzalez jerseys being sold in Mexcio City this holidy season.
]]>By: Jeremy Foxhttp://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408379
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:15:34 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408379Um, it’s *social* anxiety disorder. I know nothing about it–and neither do you, I’ll bet–but if I had to guess I’d say it’s called “social” anxiety (as opposed to, say, “salary” anxiety) for a reason.
]]>By: uyf1950http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408377
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:12:11 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408377David, thank you for correcting me. I’m just curios how the policy holders of the insurance companies feel about using that money to buy a baseball team.
And when all is said and done the owners still must make money and like the accountants say see a nice ROI.
]]>By: davidpom50http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408376
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:10:48 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408376Jeremy Fox – You hit the nail on the head. Well done, sir. Did you happen to see the article on Baseball Prospectus about Greinke (and Josh Hamilton) and their mental illness issues? I think you’d like it. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=19052
]]>By: davidpom50http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408374
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:06:41 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408374You can’t really compare Sabathia’s ’08 contract to whatever Greinke gets in ’12. The massive TV deals being handed out have caused RAPID inflation, AND there’s no other top notch pitcher available. If Sabathia was on the market today, he’d get more than Greinke. If Cain and Hamels had hit free agency, Greinke would get less than he will without them on the market.
]]>By: davidpom50http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/zack-greinke-highest-paid-pitcher-in-baseball-history/#comment-408373
Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:04:08 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=270477#comment-408373You’re not wrong, but their revenues are going to be so damn high that they can afford to sign both.
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